On the eve of Independence Day, TRIBUNA is publishing a series of materials under the heading “35 Years of Independence”. Alexei Buzu, Secretary General of the Government, accepted our invitation and stated the following:

The Republic of Moldova at 35

The Republic of Moldova is a country that continues to grow, but which has greater confidence in its own choices and in its future. Moldova is more ambitious today about its regional role than it was 10 or 20 years ago; it is raising its standards and has a clear idea of what it wants to become. The fact that today we are a candidate country for European Union membership is, for me, an expression of this strong determination.

Today’s Moldova also reflects both the progress we have made and the distance we still have to travel. Our country has gone through many challenges, but each time it has moved forward. At the same time, there are contrasts that we cannot ignore: between villages and cities, between different rates of development, and between areas that have advanced more rapidly and those that still need investment and opportunities.

That is why 35 years is not only a moment to take stock, but also an opportunity to look ahead. What we build today will define the Moldova people will talk about another 35 years from now.

The greatest achievements

The greatest achievement is anchoring the Republic of Moldova within the European family. From an aspiration that once seemed distant, we have reached candidate-country status and a genuine accession process. For our generation, this is the most important development opportunity Moldova has had since gaining independence. But it is also our generation’s responsibility not to stumble along the way and to bring the accession process to completion.

Equally important is the modernization of the country. Moldova today looks very different from the country of 35 years ago. We are more connected to the European Union, our economy is more open, infrastructure is being modernized, communities are developing, and the standards by which we assess quality of life are much higher. Today, we can afford to have greater expectations of our country—and I believe that is also a form of progress.

One thing that is discussed with less enthusiasm, but which has fundamentally changed our ability to shape our future, is energy independence. We sometimes forget that not long ago our gas or electricity could be cut off as a form of blackmail over our sovereign choices. Today, Moldova is shaping its destiny according to its own decisions.

The greatest challenges. What divides society

I believe one of the greatest challenges is accelerating economic development. We need an economy that grows rapidly, attracts investment, creates well-paid jobs and provides more opportunities for people and companies here. Only with a strong economy can we increase people’s incomes, something Moldovans expect and deserve. In the coming years, including through the Growth Plan, we will have access to significant resources and investments. The key is to use them efficiently and turn this opportunity into a pace of development that people can actually feel.

This is where the state’s capacity to deliver comes in. We can have resources, good strategies and ambitious projects, but ultimately people judge the state by what it manages to accomplish. The coming years will bring a very large volume of reforms and investments, and we need institutions capable of turning them into results.

Another challenge is demographic. We need more people to see Moldova as a place where it is worth building their future—to work, develop a business and start a family. To achieve this, we must create conditions and a quality of life that make the choice to stay or return home a natural one.

All of this is more difficult in a divided society. We are often separated by issues related to identity, language, geopolitics or different views of the country’s past and future. We are still learning not to turn every difference into a rupture. We can see some things differently and, at the same time, share the same goal: a European, safe and prosperous country where our children have a future.

The future of the Republic of Moldova: What will it look like in 10 years?

In 10 years, I see the Republic of Moldova in the European Union, more developed, better connected and with a stronger economy. I see better infrastructure, simpler and more accessible public services, greater energy security, and communities with the resources and capacity needed for development. I see more and more Moldovans at home.

Working on local public administration reform has given me the opportunity to meet many mayors and people from across the country who believe in the communities where they live and want to contribute to their development. I have met local elected officials who take responsibility for their communities, seek solutions, build strong municipalities and put people’s well-being first. This experience gives me great confidence when I think about Moldova 10 years from now.

But it is no longer enough to say what kind of country we want to be. We have a responsibility to build this country together.

What I am proud of and what I would tell a foreigner first when they ask about Moldova

First of all, I would tell them about our people. About the way we know how to be there for one another, about our hospitality, but also about those who create and succeed, at home or anywhere in the world.

I would then tell them that Moldova must be discovered beyond Chișinău. We have very different villages and regions, beautiful places, traditions and an authenticity you cannot find elsewhere. And I am sure all readers will agree with me—we have the most varied and delicious food in the world.

I would certainly tell them about our culture, about the diversity found in such a small country, and about how different life stories, cultures and traditions meet here.

And, perhaps most importantly, I would tell them that Moldova is a country undergoing transformation. If someone comes now and returns in five years, I want them to be able to see the difference and want to come back again.

A message to the Republic of Moldova and its citizens on the 35th anniversary of Independence

In 35 years, we have demonstrated that we can keep this country free and democratic. Our next mission is to make it stronger, more prosperous and irreversibly European.

And this mission does not depend only on institutions. Moldova moves forward through every person who does their job well, every entrepreneur who has the courage to invest here, every mayor who takes care of their community, and every young person who chooses to build their future around this country.

Independence gave us the freedom to decide our future ourselves. It is our generation’s responsibility to take Moldova where it belongs—in the European Union.

Happy Independence Day, Republic of Moldova! May we be more united, take care of what we have achieved, and have the courage to face what lies ahead.